Yanks should have waited to use Kennedy

When your score five runs against the Angels at the Big A, the way the Yankees did last night, you'd like to hope you get enough pitching to squeeze out a win over the best team in baseball.

But unfortunately, the Bombers made the poor choice of throwing Ian Kennedy to the dogs last night. Kennedy, who hasn't pitched at the big league level in months (he had a pretty successful stint in the minors after getting off the DL), was horrible against the Angels, allowing nine hits in two-plus innings.

He taxed the bullpen and, even worse, probably lost more confidence. In retrospect, the Bombers probably should have given Darrell Rasner another start against the Halos. Yes, he's been awful too, but at least he occasionally has a good outing. And, having faced them last weekend, at least he would have known what it takes to get some outs.

Instead, Kennedy gets bombed, Rasner has a mediocre relief appearance and the Yankees, thanks in part to Rasner and Brian Bruney's subpar relief stints, drop a 10-5 decision to the Angels.

And guess what? It doesn't get any better the next two days. We have Dan Giese going this afternoon (say your prayers). Do you have any confidence he's going to get the job done today? And, to make matters worse, Andy Pettitte's elbow has apparently been barking and they're not 100 percent sure he'll be ready to go tomorrow.

The season is hanging in the balance. Right now, I'd settle for one of the next two games and pray Mike Mussina and Sidney Ponson help us win 2 of 3 in Minnesota. It's the best we can hope for right now.

With Tampa winning again last night (the Bosox, fortunately, lost), we're 6 1/2 out of the division lead and three out of the wild-card's top spot. Not a good time to have as many injuries as we do.

So, one of three things have to happen between today and tomorrow. Either Giese or whoever the heck is pitching on Sunday has to give us a good outing or, the Yankee offense has to carry us to victory with an explosion (think it's going to happen today against an angry John Lackey? Don't bet the house.).